Ancient Breed History
- Polled British White Cattle . . . . the polled
ancient Park cattle of Medieval times, and Immortalized in
Ancient Celtic Myth and Law many thousands of years ago.

"Early accounts have suggested that hornless or polled cattle
were introduced to Ireland and Britain from Scandinavia by Viking
settlers (Wilson 1909). However, this theory is contradicted
by the
presence of polled cattle in the Irish archaeological record prior to
the appearance of the Vikings (McCormick 1987)."
DNAanalysis of cattle from Viking Dublin1999, D. E.MacHugh and others, P. 100.

The purpose of this project was to explore the ancient breed history of
Britain's Park Cattle and clarify the relationship between the
ancient horned White Park of today and the ancient polled White Park of
today (now referred to as British
White). In1918 the Park Cattle
Society was formed in the United Kingdomand a herd book
formally established which recorded both horned and polled ancient white park
cattle of both black and red points. In 1946,breeders of ancient polled Park Cattle
separated from the Park Cattle Society and formed the British White
Cattle Society - thereafter the 'polled' park cattle were known by the
distinguishing breed name - British White.

As a breeder of
polled British White cattle I've often been asked "What is the
difference between the White Park and the British White?" I couldn't answer and found myself stumbling, as I knew
Britain's White Park Cattle Societyquite oddly
declares no relationship to the polled British White, yet the information
currently available in essays and articles on the polled British White and the
horned White Park reflects much of the same lore and legend.

They
share this lore and legend because both varieties of park cattle were
present in the British Isles since 'time immemorial'. In
Wild, White Cattle"(p.36) by
James Edmund Harting (c.1880), it is clear that at the onset of the Middle
Ages there were polled herds, horned herds with a variety of shape and
length, and herds with both red and black color points. The
distinguishing trait today that separates the two varieties is the
presence of horns, and secondary to horns would be the disposition of the
animal, and those same traits have existed for hundreds of years -- the difference today is our 21st century
need to peg this wonderful bovine into two distinct breeds.
It's interesting to compare the
Rare
Breeds Survival Trust's(a UK charity supported
national conservation society) descriptions of the two breeds.
It strikes one that they are careful not to step on the toes of the horned
White Park Cattle Society, likely because one of their most influential
members has strong connections with the White Park Cattle Society.
Conspicuously absentis any mention in
the White Park breed description of the original founding Park Cattle
Society that dates back to 1918 that encompassed all white park cattle,
polled or horned, within the United Kingdom.

As well, there is no
mention given to the introgression of English Longhorn and Welsh Black
genetics into horned White Park herds; and certainly no mention that
prior to the 1940's owners of horned herds made use of polled white park
(British White) bulls to improve their herds. The following is an
excerpt from the Conclusion section of Jessica Hemmings' excellent 2002
research article which would appear to lay to rest the claims of horned
White Park Cattle, whether docile or wild, of being of ancient aurochsen
origin which we are to believe makes them a breed of greater antiquity
than that of the polled British White:

". . . .The
public literature distributed by the Chillingham Wild Cattle Association deliberately fosters this sense of mystery,
as does the Association's reluctance to accept the findings of recent
zoological studies which indicate that the animals (Chillingham park
cattle) are the feral
descendants of ordinary domestic
stock. Nobody claims that they come from the
fairy mounds any longer, but arguing that they are the direct descendants
of "the gigantic wild white bull of Caesar's time, and of the monstrous
bovine wonders of the Palaeolithic and neolithic ages" (Wallace 1907, 29)
seems thematically similar. Where the origin is obscure, it is easy to
imagine it to be remarkable. . ."

Within the existing
horned White Park
herds in the UK, there are apparently animals of both wild and tame
disposition. However, the horned
Chillingham herd of
White Park cattleis considered to be
representative of the true feral (wild) white park animal, and
DNA testing is
said to show these Chillingham animals as distinct from any other European breed.
However, per Hemmings 2002 research:

". . .Although both the late
president and the patron have quoted genetic work done on the cattle to
support their arguments, the zoological reports in fact make it quite
clear that the Chillingham herd does not have any special relationship to
the aurochs whatsoever (Hall 1982-3, 96; 1991, 540)."

The Chillingham
cattle continue to live in their native habitat and the introduction of
new blood is said to be minimal to non-existent.
Unfortunately, many historians and breeders key in on this falsely
supported DNA report and
presume that all horned white park cattle are proven distinct from the
polled British White. I believe this is an error of enormous
consequenceperpetuated by Britain's
White Park Cattle Society for
their own disserving purposes that will one day be corrected.
There is no public data that
identifies the lineage of the British White animals that were used for the
basis of these tests, but most assuredly
in my opinion the horned White Park
animal (s) that was tested was a cow or bull of the most exceedingly
closed Chillingham genetics and bears no relationship to the fat and
docile appearing horned White Park animals to be found more commonly in
Britain, which even a novice can ascertain as having a distinct kinship
with Britain's and the USA's polled British White cattle.

Exploring different references to the
British White, I was surprised to learn that there are Galloway's that are
white with black points, and considering the genetic dominance
of the pattern of white with black (or red) points. . .

"Although there is strong evidence that the
White Galloway and White Park patterns are due to the tyrosinase gene, the
mutation does not occur in the coding portion of the gene and therefore no
DNA test has been developed. This temperature sensitive expression of
pigment, like that of the Siamese cat, is inherited as a dominant. If a
rancher breeds 7 non-white cows and obtains 7 white calves, there is a 99%
chance that the sire is homozygous for this trait."
DNA
Tests for Cattle - Dr. Sheila Schmutz.
. . .of the polled British White (pre 1946 White Park) markings it could be easily surmised that at some
point in time the British White was bred into the Galloway, and I would
instinctively surmise this occurred well before the modern days of
1960. I would
have thought the odd white Galloway would be found more closely linked to the
British White judging from simply the look of these ancient polled cattle
and their docile nature and the dominance of the white park markings once
introduced into a breed, thisWhite Galloway breeder
appears to concur.

"As can be
clearly seen, the breeders of these cattle were engaged in a continual
struggle to maintain numbers, and from time to time the blood of other
breeds was introduced in order to avoid problems associated with
in-breeding and to achieve the desired type. (The
article on page 7 of the 1998 British White Breed Journal by Mr J Cator
gives a full account of these outside sources used between 1840 and 1918
in the Woodbastwick herd)."(source:
British
White Cattle Society - UK)

The polled variety of the white
park cattle was considered superior by this elder cattleman of the UK in
the early 20th century. The excellence "since
time immemorial" of the polled white park cattle referred to
by this gentleman continues today. . .

Sir Claud Alexander, owner of the
Faygate herd, writing in the 1912 "Amateur Menagerie Club" Year Book says:"I would, however, strongly advise anyone who may think of
forming a herd to go to the polled variety for his foundation stock, for they
have been kept from time immemorial for their milk and beef producing
qualities, and right well do they justify their existence... The Somerford cows
are excellent milkers and one of mine averages five gallons a day when in full
profit. In addition to this they are big heavy beasts and give a good return
from the butcher when their milking days are over.... Mr Quinton Gurney's herd
at Northrepps Hall is a thoroughly practical one, for on it devolves the task
of keeping the town of Cromer supplied with milk. At Woodbastwick too, some
grand milkers are to be found, and here great attention is paid to beef
producing powers, as the records of the local fat stock shows frequently
testify... If anyone who reads these notes and feels inclined to form a herd
will communicate with me, I shall be pleased to supply any information that may
be required."

What I find most interesting is the casual inference that the polled
variety has better milk and beef producing qualities and has from "time
immemorial". The domesticated white park cattle (British White)
from the days of the Druidsshould
have better milk and beef producing qualities than thewild variety of the horned Ancient White Park.

A few years after the excerpt above was printed,
the Park Cattle Society was formed in the UK in 1918, which encompassed both
horned and polled examples of the breed. In 1946 the group split and the
polled white "Park Cattle" animal became formally known as a British Whiteand the
British White Cattle
Society in the UK was
established. Through their efforts the
polled British White has risen from numbers so low as to be listed a rare
breed, to it's status now as a minority breed. Their numbers will
continue to grow as this beautiful, docile animal becomes more broadly
known across the world as the breed that delivers all that an owner can
wish for in health, longevity, fertility, milk, and beef.

.

Extract FROM JOHN O'GROATS TO LAND'S
END, SEVENTH WEEK'S JOURNEY, Oct. 3 to Nov. 51871. "We
now bade good-bye to the River Dove, leaving it to carry its share of
the Pennine Range waters to the Trent, and walked up the hill leading
out of the town towards Abbots Bromley. We soon reached a lonely and
densely wooded country with Bagot's Wood to the left, containing trees
of enormous age and size, remnants of the original forest of Needwood,
while to the right was Chartley Park, embracing about a thousand acres
of land enclosed from the same forest by the Earl of Derby, about the
year 1248. In this park was still to be seen the famous herd of wild
cattle, whose ancestors were known to have been driven into the park
when it was enclosed. These animals resisted being handled by men, and
arranged themselves in a semi-circle on the approach of an intruder. The
cattle were perfectly white, excepting their extremities, their ears,
muzzles, and hoofs being black, and their long spreading horns were also
tipped with black. Chartley was granted by William Rufus to Hugh Lupus,
first Earl of Chester, whose descendant, Ranulph, a Crusader, on his
return from the Holy War, built Beeston Castle in Cheshire, with
protecting walls and towers, after the model of those at Constantinople.
He also built the Castle at Chartley about the same period, A.D. 1220,
remarkable as having been the last place of imprisonment for the
unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots, as she was taken from there in 1586 to
be executed at Fotheringhay."